Final answer:
A classical view proponent would agree that businesses should prioritize profits over social and environmental concerns, as argued by Milton Friedman. This view emphasizes the primacy of shareholder interests and sees government as responsible for regulating business impacts on society.
Step-by-step explanation:
A proponent of the classical view of corporate social responsibility would most likely agree with the statement that Businesses should prioritize profits over social and environmental concerns. This viewpoint aligns with the philosophies of economists like Milton Friedman, who argued that the primary moral responsibility of businesses is to increase their profits. According to Friedman, it is up to the government to create and enforce regulations to protect society, while businesses should focus on maximizing shareholder wealth.
From this classical perspective, the interests of shareholders—those who invest capital and own a portion of the company—are paramount. Executives and employees of the firm are seen as having a fiduciary duty to these shareholders to make decisions that maximize company profits. This contrasts with stakeholder theory, which suggests that corporations should balance the interests of all those who have a stake in the company, including employees, customers, and the community at large.
A proponent of the classical view of corporate social responsibility would most likely agree with option A: Businesses should prioritize profits over social and environmental concerns. According to Milton Friedman, who argued for this view, the primary responsibility of businesses is to maximize profits for their shareholders. He believed that it was the role of government to impose regulations to prevent businesses from harming society.